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An Address 



TO THE 



People 



OF 



Arkansas 



BY 



THOMAS BOLES 



OF 



Fort Smith, Arkansas 






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THOMAS BOLES, Fort Smith, Arkansas 






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An Address to the People 
of Arkansas 

BY 

TH0MA5 BOLES 

OF 

Fort Smith, Arkansas 

Ladies and Gentlemen: — 

After your daily toil is over and the family has 
j^athered in the home for that rest known only to those 
who toil, I want to talk with you an hour or so about 
matters of great interest to all Arkansans. While 
these matters concern our public affairs as Arkansans, 
I assure you 'before beg-inning-, my remarks shall be 
solely in the interest of g"ood g-overnment. My object 
being to awaken and arouse the public mind and heart 
of Arkansans to the best interests of the State and all 
our people; and, if possible, to stir them up to rig-ht 
action as a free people capable of g-overning" them- 
selves, instead of being- g-overned by some mysterious, 
self-constituted and irresponsible ag-g-reg-ation of au- 
thority, consisting of committees or bosses. 

With this assurance on my part may I now pro- 
ceed? Fearing- some may ask, "Who are you that asks 
to appropriate one whole hour's time of our family?" I 
reply, "I was born and have lived all my life in .Arkan- 
sas, being less than one year young-er than the State." 
And farther, by way of introduction, and I hope I do not 



lay myself open to the charg-e of eg-otism by saying- 
that I have serv^ed the Nation in the army and in its 
Leg"islative and Executive Departments; and have 
served our State in a judicial as well as other capac- 
ities, and I am not ashamed of the records made of 
such services. And further, to be free and frank with 
you I will add, that in politics I am first an American 
and next I am now and have been since 1867, a republi- 
can, of the Lincoln and Blaine School. However, still 
further to be frank with you, I have on several occa- 
ions found that I could not fully indorse the platform 
of the Republican party and its nominees; and have as 
an American citizen, fallen back on my inalienable 
rig-ht as such, and voted as my own judg-ment thoug-ht 
best for the interest of the g-reat majority of the people 
of the whole countr}'. In doing- this I then thougfht 
and yet think I was doing- rig-ht, because I was casting" 
a vote that expressed my own sentiments and not an 
opinion ready-made for me. Hence, while I was tem- 
porarily, under the unpleasant necessit}^ of differing- 
from a majority of republicans, still having- voted ac- 
cording to my own best judg-ment at the time, I have 
no apolog'ies to make to anyone for m}^ exercise of the 
rig-ht of an American freeman to vote as he honestly 
believes to be rig-ht. 

Now, with this elaborate assurance and introduc- 
tion I will venture to proceed. 



The Voters Responsibility 

Under a g-overnment like ours, State and National, 
framed upon the basic principle that the people rule, 
the duty of the citizen is g-reat, indeed much g-reater 
than that of a subject under a King- or Emperor; but 
such duty is the price that must always be paid for 
that greatest boon ever achieved or inherited bv man. 



liberty, which means the right and duty of individual 
thought and action. And if this liberty, which we 
have inherited, is to be preserved, it must be by the 
people investigating-, thinking and intelligently and 
patriotically acting for themselves, bravely and strictly 
in accordance with what they believe to be right. Any 
man who would act otherwise has not attained to the 
full estate of American Manhood. 

Every good citizen should inform himself as best 
he can of all matters pertaining to public affairs; and 
then it is his duty to use such information as a basis 
upon which to found his support of or opposition to any 
proposed measure or policy. This is legitimate, prop- 
er and patriotic politics, because its sole object is the 
public good. This is not only proper and legitimate 
politics, it indicates the duty of all good citizens. Un- 
fortunately this is not the only kind of politics we have 
in Arkansas claiming and receiving- public attention 
and support from too many of our people, who from 
habit, thoughtlessly follow the lead of selfish men Or 
self serving partisans. In addition to the pure public- 
spirited politics above mentioned, we have partisan 
politics, which has for its object the service of some 
political party, and incidentally the good of the coun- 
try. Its votaries agree on some great measure or pol- 
icy which they believe calculated to best promote the 
general welfare of the people, while they are opposed 
by other political organizations, which entertains an 
opposite opinion. Then we have personal politics, 
which has for its sole object the promotion of the inter- 
est and ambition of some person or combination of per- 
sons, who claim to be members of some political party 
in order to use it for their personal interest; and such 
persons are generally in the part}^ which locally has a 
majority. This is the worst species of politics, because 
it is base and sordid and too often is as unscrupulous 



__4— 

as it is selfish; resorting- to all kinds of subterfuofes to 
misrepresent and slander and defame their opponents, 
and at the same time hypocritically pretending* to be 
moved by a public spirit, which never serious!}^ en- 
ters their minds. Such politicians bring- politics into 
disrepute with many g"ood people and disg-race to the 
party to which they belong-. Many g-ood people be- 
come so disgusted with primaries, conventions and 
elections that thev refuse to participate in them. In- 
deed in some localities this kind of politics has become 
so prevalent, pernicious and so prevailing- that many 
g-ood people have refrained for years from taking- an}^ 
part in any public affairs because they hesitate to have 
contests with self-serving-, unscrupulous and slander- 
ing- candidates for public favors. This is not rig-ht, 
they should boldly and manfully take part in all con- 
ventions and primary elections of their respective par- 
ties; and insist upon adoption of correct principles and 
policies in their platforms, and the selection of only 
"Worthy and competent men for nominees for all official 
positions, and g-ive them to understand that unless 
sound principles are set forth in their platform and 
worthy men are nominated they will not support the 
ticket. The personal politician seldom if ever takes 
into account the public g-ood except to loudly and ve- 
hemently profess fealty to it while he is seeking- a 
nomination and an election. Whatever stands in the 
way of his personal ambition, whether it be party inter- 
est or public g-ood is ruthlessly brushed aside, while 
his campaig-n cry is "All is fair in politics." He cares 
not if his party is disg-raced by his methods, so he is 
successful in attaining- for himself a public position 
and sometimes, public plunder. When partisan poli- 
tics has the ascendancy it often happens that the g-reat 
masses of the people are made to suffer in order to 
promote the interest of "the party;" and this may 



— 5— 
sometimes be excused by those supporting- the winning" 
party upon the honest belief that if the other party 
should succeed, the people's suffering- would be g-reat- 
er. But when personal politics hold sway "the wicked 
rule and the people mourn" indeed. 

The discussion of the merits and demerits (princi- 
pally the demerits) of self-serving- seekers after offices 
is forced upon the people to the exclusion of all meas- 
ures of vital importance to all the people; and finally 
when the people of the State are called upon to make a 
selection for any particular official position they are 
driven to make a choice between two evils; and of 
course, the}' choose the one they think the lesser evil; 
or refuse to vote at all. Thus virtually disfranchising- 
themselves. The campaig-n g-enerally consists in each 
candidate discussing- his own fitness and the utter un- 
fitness of his opponent for the position to which they 
aspire; and often ample proof of the unfitness of both 
is produced with convicting- force. 



Reform and Industrial School 

Year after year scores of young- boys, some of 
them in knee pants, have been sent to the State Peni- 
tentiary and imprisoned with hundreds of hardened 
criminals, with whom they are compelled to associate 
at that tender age, when they are so susceptible to evil 
as well as good influences. Generally, they are with- 
out father and, in man}^ cases, without a mother's care 
and love. Most of them are mere children, left with- 
out home or any of the restraining or refining- influ- 
ences that should be found in every home; and are vic- 
tims of a vicious and depraved environment suffered to 
exist by law, if not encourag-ed b}- a failure of the en- 
forcement of the laws made for the suppression of 
crime and the protection of society. Notwithstanding- 



— 6— 

the State has suffered these children to be led into 
temptation, as soon as they fall, or even stumble, they 
are seized by the State authorities and punished with- 
out mercy, and with no thoug-ht of their reformation. 
Indeed the State puts them where no reformino* influ- 
ences can reach them, and v.'here only evil influences 
have sway. At that tender ao-e they readily imbibe 
the teaching's of the vicious men with whom they are 
compelled to associate. Thus it is, that the State, in- 
stead of trying- to save these poor and unfortunate 
children from a life of crime, is really bringing- in 
from all over the State scores of pupils and putting 
them under the tutelage of hardened and experienced 
criminals, making the Penitentiary a school of crime 
for g-raduating- criminals. Hence, when the young- boy 
comes out of the Penitentiary, he is an accomplished 
criminal, made such by the State; and, of course, is 
ready and well prepared to take up and live a life of 
crime, and the exception is rare where he does not do 
it. Since like produces like, and since the State has 
acted as a criminal in its treatment of these boys, we 
have no rig-ht to expect from such ex-convicts, any- 
thing" else than a life of crime. 

Look at it from whatever point of view we may, 
this treatment of -juvenile offenders does not pay. Be- 
sides it is cruel brutal and inhuman, and in every way 
revolting to our sense of right and justice. It does 
not pay the State to make criminals of boys who, with 
proper humane and reformatory treatment, would be- 
come useful citizens and a strength to the State in- 
stead of an encumberance, as most boys are who grad- 
uate at the Penitentiary, the State's school of crime. 

The good people of this state, individually and col- 
lectively, and the newspapers have been for years, de- 
manding that this most shameful and grievous evil be 
corrected, and they have pointed out to legislature af- 



— 7— 

ter leo-lslature how it should be corrected, that is, by 
providino- a Reform and Industrial School for juvenile 
offenders; where they could be kept separate from vic- 
ious criminals. But no such institution has been pro- 
vided. Later on in this paper I will state what I be- 
lieve is the reason for this ne^j-lect of duty, and sug-g^est 
a remedy. 



State Board of Equalization of Assessments 

Our Constitution provides that all taxes shall be 
equal and uniform throughout the State. This provis- 
ion of our fundamental law is eminently just and prop- 
er, but stands as a dead letter in our books, because 
it is violated with impunity, and immunity from pun- 
ishment all over the State. It is true we have County 
Boards of Equalization of Assessments, which to some 
extent, equalize assessments among" the tax-payers of 
the different counties; but at present we have no 
means of compelling- an equalization of assessments 
among- all the Counties of the State. The result is 
that we find assessments in some Counties made at the 
rate of fifty per cent or more of the true value of the 
property, while in other Counties they assess on a ba- 
sis of 33%, 25, 20, and some less than 15 per cent of 
the true value of the property assessed. Hence, 
some of our people are paying- one hundred per cent 
more taxes to the State than others. This, I need not 
say is unjust, but it is in violation of the plain provis- 
ion of the Constitution, and should be corrected. I 
know of no better way to correct it than by securing- 
the enforcement of the law which provides that all 
property subject to taxation, shall be taxed according- 
to its value. This will work no hardship upon any 
one; nor will it increase the amount of taxes we have to 



pay; for we have so much money to raise to meet the 
expenses of administerinof the g-overnment. If all the 
property of the State were assessed at its true value, 
our rates of taxation would not be one half as high as 
they are now, and equal and uniform taxation would be 
secured. 

Whether this policy is to be adopted and enforced, 
or the old plan of assessing- a certain per cent of the 
value is still to be pursued, we should have a State 
Board of Equalization to pass upon the assessments 
made in the different Counties; in order that we may 
secure equal and uniform taxation throughout the 
State. Such Board might be appointed by the Govern- 
or by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; 
but its members should reside in different parts of the 
State. 

I believe thaf three hundred dollars of the per- 
sonal property of every head of a family should be ex- 
empt from taxation. 



Traveling Auditor and Bank Examiner. 

The most important interests of the people de- 
pend upon the competency, integ-rity and faithfulness 
of their County officials. Not only is this the case 
with reference to the money accounts of their officials, 
but has reference to the records of titles to real estate, 
and the descent of property through Chancery and 
Probate Courts. 

It is said that within a g"eneration a larg-e majority 
of the property in the state passes throug-h the Probate 
Court alone. Hence, the g-reat and vital importance 
that all records should be properly made and that all 
files properly kept so that they may be preserved for 
all time. The records and files of the other County 
officials are equally important; and should be made and 
kept with equal care. 



— 9— 

A g*reat many of our County officials, while honest 
and faithful to the great trusts they have assumed, are 
not expert accountants, and are not experienced in 
arrano-ing- their offices, or in making- records and keep- 
ing- files in a methodical manner. The g-reater number 
of them, with a little assistance of the right kind at the 
proper time, would become not only honest and faith- 
ful, but efficient officials; and by their faithful and 
efficient service in their respective offices, w^ould save 
■the County and its people of troubles without end 
which often entail losses amounting* to thousands of 
dollars. Hence, there oug-ht to be a uniform system 
adopted throug-hout the State, for arrang-ing- all offices 
of County officers, making- of records, and keeping* and 
preserving- files; so that they may be as readily referred 
to and examined by a strang-er, who understands the 
system, as by the officer who has them in charg^e. 

In view of the g-reat interests involved, I believe 
we should have a Traveling- Auditor and Bank Ex- 
aminer, who should be a skilled accountant, whose 
duty should be to visit and inspect the books of all 
County officials and Banks chartered under the laws of 
the State, and files of all County officials throughout 
the State at least once a year. His duties being' fully 
defined by law; and requiring him to report at least 
once a year to the Governor, and as much oftener as 
the exigencies of cases that may arise may require, to 
secure good service at the hands of all County officials 
and Banking institutions operating under thelawsofthe 
State. 

And it would be well to require such Traveling 
Auditor and Bank Examiner to examine the assess- 
ment books of each County, and report the result of 
his examinations to the State Board of Equalization, 
for its consideration in the discharge of their duties. 

The work required might, for two or four years, 



—lo- 
be greater than one such officer could do; if so, the 
work is so important and the interest so g-reat that two 
such officers mig-ht be with profit tothe public service, 
used at least until the uniform system of keeping- 
County offices throug-hout the State is put in good run- 
ninp- order. 



Collection of Taxes by Districts 

Taxes should be collected in the following- manner: 
Divide the state into four .equal districts, taking into 
consideration the amount of taxes to be collected; then 
collect one district for each three months of the year. 
That is, collect all the taxes levied in District No. 1, 
during- the months of January, February and March, 
and pay them into the Treasury by first of April; then 
collect all taxes levied in District No. 2. during- the 
months of April, May and June, and pay them into the 
Treasury by first of July; and so on through the dis- 
tricts and through the year. Each of these quarterly 
payments of taxes into the State Treasury would fur- 
nish the ready money to meet the quarterly payments 
to be made by the State. 

Under this plan the tax money would be left with 
the people until just before it is needed to meet the ex- 
penses of the State; thus keeping the money of the 
state circulating in business among the people until ac- 
tually needed, instead of having locked up in the State 
Treasury seven or eight hundred thousand dollars of 
the people's money as so much dead capital, as is now 
the case under the present law. 

I have advocated this change in the law for many 
years; and have urged members of the last two or 
three legislatures to take the matter up and bring it 
before the legislature. In every instance my proposi- 



tion has been received with favor, and attention prom- 
ised, but none ever g-iven, except Gov. Clarke, in his 
message to the legislature, at the close of his term 
recommended that some such measure be enacted. 

The question of what should be done with this 
large sum of the people's money while it is lying idle, 
awaiting to be paid out on fixed charges against the 
state, is often agitated. It is certainly well calculated 
to tempt thecupidity of scheming speculators, to devise 
ways and means to get hold of and use it until it is 
needed in paying bills against the state. They, with 
good reason, say, it is a pity to have these hundreds of 
thousands of dollars lying idle .in the vaults of the 
state Treasury, while it is so badly needed to increase 
our circulating medium in the channels of the business 
of the people. Hence, it was suggested during the 
last Legislature that the Banks be permitted to take 
and use it. 

But it certainly would be better to let the money 
stay with the people until the State needs it; then 
collect it, pay it into the State Treasury just in time 
for the State to pay it out to its officials and employes. 
By this means the tax-mone)^ paid would not be drawn 
from circulation more than three or four months; and 
but comparatively a small amount would be so with- 
drawn at a time. This would greatly relieve the bur- 
den of the responsibility of the Auditor and Treasur- 
er, and reduce the amounts of their bonds to one- 
third, if not one-fourth their present size. 

Such a measure would be worth thousands of dol- 
lars annually to the tax-payers of the State; and, of 
course, should be enacted into law as soon as possible. 



—12— 

Board of Pardons 

There should be a Board of Pardons consisting- of 
three members, to be appoirited by the Governor by 
and with the advice and consent of the Senate. They 
should reside in different parts of the State; and one 
should be a law^yer of larg-e experience, one a physician 
who has had a larg-e practice and the other should be a 
farmer, intellig-ent and well endowed with common 
sense and a g-eneral knowledg-e of men and affairs. 

This Board should meet once a month at the Capi- 
tol Building- to consider and pass upon petitions for 
pardons, which should be filed with the Governor; and 
a fee of ten dollars or more should accompany each pe- 
tition for a pardon. The fee should be made larg-e 
enoupfh to make the Board self-sustaininsf. 



The Franchise 

The rig-ht to have a voice in public affairs is abso- 
lutely necessary if we are to have a g-overnment by the 
people, founded upon the consent of the g-overned; and 
there is no way by which this voice can be exercised 
by the g-reat mass of the people except by attending- 
all elections and casting- a vote for such measures and 
such men as they may each individually, think will 
best promote the best interest of all. 

The rig-ht to vote and sit upon juries are abso- 
lutely necessary to secure the rig-hts of freemen. 
Without these rig-hts, no man is a freeman. No man 
is justly g-overned without his consent. Without the 
rig-ht to vote there is no way provided by law by which 
he can g-ive his consent. 

Our ancestors strugg-led for hundreds of years, 
ag-ainst tyrannical rulers, who usurped the power to 
rule the people, before they secured for themselves 



—13— 

and for us the rig-ht to vote and sit upon juries. These 
rig"hts have always been and are now absolutely neces- 
sary to secure the priceless boon of liberty. Those 
rig-hts cost our ancestors, hundreds of thousands of 
lives and oceans of patriotic blood. But thanks be to 
our noble, brave and patriotic ancestors, they finally 
conquered tyranny to the extent of securing- these 
rig-hts which opened the way for human liberty and 
self-g-overnment. Prom them, without any effort or 
any sacrifice by us, we have inherited these rig-hts, 
which secure to us the blessing-s of liberty if we do 
our duty. 

While the blessing's of liberty have been inherited 
by us from our fathers, without any sacrifices on our 
part, it does not follow that we are lalways to enjoy 
them without an effort. Mr. Jefferson g-ave us the 
keynote to patriotism when he said: "Eternal vig-il- 
ance is the price of liberty." The enemies that Mr. 
Jefferson warned us to g-uard ag-ainst, were not simply 
the armed and hostile foreig-n foe. There are many 
other enemies that are much more dang-erous to our 
liberties. One of the most dangerous enemies we 
have to fear, is the idea that is g-rowing- in this Coun- 
try, that our officials, who really are only our tempo- 
rary servants, assume to become, for the time being-, 
our rulers. In the American Union there are no rul- 
ers. There is, under God, but one Ruler; and that is 
The Lazu; w^hich is the zvill of the people leg-ally ex- 
pressed. 

There is no way by which the people can legally 
express their will except by the ballot at elections and 
in the jury-boxes. Therefore every good citizen will, 
under our law as it now stands and is administered, do 
everything in his power to arm himself with the ballot 
and fit and qualify himself to intelligently use it; and 
then, without prejudice or passion but with cool and 



—14— 

calm judo-ment use his ballot couragfeously by casting' 
it for such men and measures as he, individually, may 
believe best calculated to secure just and g'ood g-overn- 
ment for all the people of the State, black as well as 
white. 

Under the laws of our State, before anyone can 
vote he must have paid his poll tax of one dollar. 
Many claim this is an unconstitutional burden laid 
upon the voter; but be that as it may, it is a very light 
one; and the money derived therefrom g-oes to the ed- 
ucation of the children of the State; and who is there 
that is worthy to cast a ballot at our elections, who 
would not willing-ly contribute one dollar to that great- 
est of causes, the cause of Education? 

The man who fails to get his poll-tax receipt, I 
fear does not fully appreciate the liberty that has been 
achieved for him; and he certainly has not attained to 
a full realization of what constitutes American Man- 
hood. Hence, I insist that every man in the State, 
black as well as white, lose no time in calling upon the 
collector of taxes in their respective counties and pay- 
ing their taxes, and getting a separate receipt for 
their poll-tax. If their names are not on the tax- 
books, have them put on at once, and pay the poll-tax, 
although a little additional expense may have to be 
paid, by reason of the names not being on the books. 
Every good citizen owes it to himself, to his family, to 
his friends and his State to attend to this most impor- 
tant matter without any delay whatsoever. Not only 
should each man attend to this himself but he ought to 
arouse his neighbors to do likewise; and do it at once. 
The man who neglects doing his duty in these respects 
raises the suspicion that he does not properly ap- 
preciate American citizenship. 

The plea that it is no use to vote, because your 
vote will not be counted as cast, is not good, for you 



— IS— 

are g*uilty of an omission to do your duty if you do not 
vote. Let each do his duty before charging- wrong 
doinp" to others. 



Rule of the Majority, 

For years the good people throught the State have 
been demanding that the Legislature provide aReform 
and Industrial School for juvenile offenders, and for 
ample accomodation for our unfortunate people who 
are bereft temporarily or permanently of mind and rea- 
son. It is stated that there are now, and have been for 
years between 300and400of these people for whom there 
is no room in the Asylum for the Insane and that they 
are either chained or confined in jails many , of which are 
a disgrace to the State, not being fit for convicted crim- 
inals, much less for good people as most of these in- 
sane people are. Notwithstanding these demands and 
appeals made by the people privately and by them in 
organized bodies, and by their newspapers throughout 
the State, year after year, to legislature after legisla- 
ture; and notwithstanding all candidates for seats in the 
legislature have from- 3^ear to year, while pleading for 
votes, have solemly and publicly pledged themselves to se- 
curetheenactment of laws that would meetthese press- 
ing public wants anji demands; and while thus pledging 
themselves many of them grow eloquent in speaking of 
poor little orphan boys in knee pants, who have been 
tempted by an environment the State has provided or 
suffered and have fallen victims to such temptations; 
have been seized by the strong, mailed hand of the law, 
and ruthlessly rushed through a dirty and filthy jail; 
then trembling with fear are brought before a Court 
where justice is expected to be impartially administer- 
ed; and when a poor unfortunate child has not afriend, 
the forms of a trial rapidly gone through with, of 



-16— 

course, the proof is postive, conviction is certain and 
a sentence to the Penitentiary must follow. That 
means that the poor unfortunate and friendless little 
culprit is sent to the State's School for g-raduating- ac- 
complished criminals. It means the banishing- into 
outer darkness forever, another young- victim of the 
vicious enviornment provided for or suffered by the 
State. And the only way those gfuilty of such a state 
of affairs have for quieting- the pricking-s of the little 
conscience they have left, is to say, as was said by Cain 
after he had murdered his brother: "I am not my 
brother's keeper." Cain's plea was not sustained 
then nor is such a plea g-ood now. Still after all this is 
discussed so elaborately and with so much righteous 
earnestness by the candidate, after he becomes a "sit- 
ting-" member of the leg'islature, about the only thing- 
that he does towards fulfilling- his pledg-es in this mat- 
ter is to get somebody to draught a bill on the subject, 
which he introduces, and, at the expense of the people, 
sends some newspapers home announcing the fact. 

Unfortunately for this measure, just about this 
time some lobbiest appears upon the scene with some 
scheme never heard of before by the great body of the 
legislature, something like the "Smith Bill," or the 
Hudson Bank Bonds, or something else which had 
never been discussed or heard of by the people. 
These schemes, by reason of the persistent push of 
the lobbiest, becomes the burning issue in the legisla- 
ture, and the members, whom the people had sent 
there as their agents to enact laws for the relief of our 
unfortunate people, forget what they were sent there 
to do, and spend a great part of their time in debat- 
ing whether or not they shall relieve somebody else, 
who is ably and persistently represented by expert 
lobbiests and attorneys. Thus it is that the time of 
the legislature is frittered away considering matters 



—17— 

never mentioned by the people when the members 
were elected, and the work they were sent there to do 
and which they pledged themselves to do, is neg-lected 
and not done. And so far as any new leg-islation for 
the benefit of the people of the State is concerned, the 
legislature need never have met. And this has been so 
from session to session; and vet will continue from 
session to session unless a remedy is found. 

Now what is the remedy? Some have thought a 
change in the membership of the Leg-islature would 
give tlie remed3^ That has been tried and failed. If 
it is to be found it must be in some other way. I be- 
lieve I can point out the way, by which the legislature 
can be compelled to do whatever the majority of the 
people demand shall be done. And this can be secured 
by the people, the source of all political power, retain- 
ing to themselves the right to begin all legislation they 
want, and reserve to themselves the right to pass upon 
all new legislation that may be initiated by the legis- 
lature. This can and should be done by the 

REFERENDUM AND INITIATIVE. 

The Referendum and Initiative, can be secured to 
the people of the State by simply changing the rules 
for enacting laws by the legislature so, that before any 
bill providing for a new and general law, shall become a 
law it shall be submitted to a vote of the people. This can 
be done by providing in the rules of the Senate and 
House, that upon demand of a certain number of mem- 
bers of either House, after a bill providing for a new 
law has passed both houses, that it shall be submitted 
to a vote 'of the people before it shall be sent to the 
Governor for approval, and providing, that in case 
a majority of the people voting at the election vote for 
it, the Governor shall approve it, and if a majority 
voting shall vote against it the Governor shall veto it 
or not sig-n the bill. 



—18— 

This will, in a great measure, do away with the 
professional lobbyist and many of their nefarious 
schemes that are so inimical to the interest of the peo- 
ple; because when they know their schemes must be 
subjected to a discussion by the people throug-h their 
newspapers, they will hesitate about hano-ing- around 
the leg-islature as they now do, to the obstruction of 
the business the people want transacted. 

Then let the rules of the Leg-islature be so amend- 
ed, as to provide that it shall be its duty, within so 
many days, to be named, after its reception, to vote 
upon, without amendment, any bill that may be pre- 
sented to it by petition for its passag-e sig-ned by one- 
fifth of the voters of the State; and if the Leg-islature 
should fail to pass such bill it shall be, without amend- 
ment, submitted to a vote of the people. And in case 
such bill shall receive a majority of the votes cast at 
such election such bill shall become a law, the vote of 
the Leg-islature to the contrary notwithstanding-. Of 
course the votes above mentioned should be taken at 
the next g-eneral election after the action of the Leg-- 
islature. This latter proceeding- is called The Initia- 
tive, because the people initiate the proceeding's by 
which the law is secured. 

By the Referendum the people can at the ballot box 
protect themselves and the State ag-ainst vicious, job- 
snap legislation; and by the Initiative they can compel 
the enactment of such laws as will promote their inter- 
est and the g-eneral welfare of the State. They will 
secure the rule of the majority of the people; and will 
in a g-reat measure do away with personal politics and 
private schemes that are now and have been for years 
the bane of public affairs in Arkansas. 

I beg- of vou to consider these sug-g-estions care- 
fully, so that you may fully understand them yourself, 
I pray you do not ask an old professional lobbiest or 



—19— 

politician his opinion of them and then be o-overned by 
what he says, for in most instances, their personal in- 
terest lies in the old ruts which they have made, and in 
which they have worked so profitably for themselves 
these many years. Some may tell you that the su«"- 
^•estions are all rigfht, but will claim they are impracti- 
cable; that they can not be carried out. Those who 
raise this objection, if they are well informed will 
know better, because they know that the Referendum 
and Initiative are now and have been for years in sat- 
isfactory operation in several states and a great many 
cities in the American Union; and wherever they have 
been adopted they have never been abandoned. When- 
ever any office holder or aspirant for office objects to 
the Referendum and Initiative, search him closely and 
you will in nine cases out of ten find that he is in the 
"old rut" or expects to get in soon. The "old rut" is 
to get the authority of the people by an election, and 
then do as he pleases or not do at all. By the Refer- 
endum and Initiative the people hold the reins and the 
whip; and reserve to themselves to choose the road 
that shall be taken. It is the only way by which we 
can secure Rule by a Majority of the People. 

The above is only a few suggestions. The sub- 
ject is of vital importance to good government. I 
would like to say more but space forbids. 

I will say farther that the above suggestions apply 
to the government of your towns; and if you endorse 
them you should exact a written pledge from the can- 
didate before you vote for him that he will favor, work 
for and stand by the Referendum and Initiative, in 
State and municipal legislation. Of course vou under- 
stand there is no partisan politics in these measures; 
because they are simpty measures to secure good gov- 
ernment for all the people of the State; and are meas- 
ures in which all good citizens are equally interested, 



—20— 

be he democrat, republican or populist; white or black. 

Then I would urg-e that each man white and black, 
in the State of Arkansas, as he values manhood and 
g-ood g-overnment, fully arm himself with the rig-ht to 
vote by paying- his poll tax of one dollar which g-oes to 
the education of our children; and then make himself 
heard in all primaries and all elections by demanding* 
the adoption of resolutions and written pledg-es from 
candidates favoring- the Referendum and Initiative, 
for securing to the people in fact, what is now only a 
theory — the Rule by the Majority of the People. The 
only way whereby we can secure for ourselves in fact 
"a government of the people, by the people, for the 
people." 

When these are secured we will in short order, 
g-et a Reform and Industrial School;«ample>accommoda- 
tion for our insane, as well as other g-reatly needed but 
neg-lected leg-islation. 

The closer the people keep to those whom they 
choose to represent them in any official or representa- 
tive capacity, the better service will they g-et from 
them. And by this means we can eliminate from our 
body politic the bribed and bribing- boodler, and the 
g-rasping- g-rafters, in our cities, counties and State. 
Give such characters to understand that their schemes 
and measures, must be submitted to the scrutinizing^ 
investig-ation of the people, and at once their occupa- 
tion will be g-one. The Referendum has already been 
to some extent used in our State with g-ood results, 
and to the entire satisfaction of the people where used. 
The ratification of Amendments to the Constitution is 
always secured by referring- to the people; the voting- 
of local school taxes, the establishment of district 
fences, the establishment of local improvement dis- 
tricts in cities and towns, and the local option law with 
reference to the sale of liquors, all are in the nature of 



—21— 

the Referendum and all of them are in successful and 
satisfactory use by the people throug-hout the State, 
And I believe the people should reserve to themselves 
the rio-ht to approve or disapprove all new leg-islation 
that is proposed by their legislators. By this means 
the people will govern their representatives and them- 
selves, while now the representatives govern them. 



. vote t 



Especially To Republicans. 

Every citizen owes it to his State to work and vote 
for her best interest; or, more properly speaking, for 
the best interest of all the people of the State. The 
plea for inaction or lack of attention in public affairs, 
that one belongs to a party that is hopelessly in the 
minorit)^ is not good. Without patriotic effort a party, 
although based upon sound principles will always re- 
main in the minority; for it is the earnest and aggres- 
sive advocates of truth and right, who are finally suc- 
cessful. Paith in principles and the manhood to con- 
tend for them on all proper occasions, always demands 
and generally receives at least respect at the hands of 
all good people, and sometimes even of political oppon- 
ents who are patriotic in their contentions. 

These general remarks are especially true and ap- 
plicable to all Republicans in Arkansas; and under 
present conditions in our State they appeal with pecu- 
liar power and overwhelming force to our sense of 
duty. The Democratic party in our State, which has 
been in power here since 1874, is in such a demoralized 
and chaotic condition that those of its members who 
may honestly wish to secure good government for the 
people seem wholly powerless to accomplish anything. 
At its best, its statesmanship in Arkansas for years has 
been only tolerable. In that party good men are ar- 
rayed against good men, and each side is reinforced by 



22 



troi 
I can 



self serving" partisans, seeking* to serve their selfish 
interests and personal ambition; and the fig-ht between 
them has become so bitter, that they have lost sig-ht of 
the honor of the State and the interest of the people, 
the worst species of personal politics prevailing-. 
With such a state of affairs in the dominant party con- 
fronting" us, w^e may naturally ask, *'What is the duty 
he Rupublicans of Arkansas?" This is a question 
that should address itself to every individual Republi- 
can in the State, And vv^hether we put this question 
to ourselves or not, and whether we answer it or not, 
thousands of g*ood people of the State, who are non- 
partisans ask and answer the question for us. These 
thousands of people want gfood, honest and respectable 
g-overnment,'and they are not g'oing- to support any 
party that from any cause, has lost its power or dis- 
position to give an honest and creditable administra- 
tion of public affairs, especially if any other party can 
assure them of an improvement upon the state of 
affairs we have had for some years. Hence, it would 
seem plain that the patriotic duty of the Republicans 
of,Arkansas'is,yfr5/ to have notliing- xohatever to do zvith 
the democratic primaries and conventions, and, second, to 
all g-ettog-ether and offer to the g-ood people of the State 
for their support a full ticket for all State and County 
offices, composed of the very best men in the State. 
Such men can be found by the thousands among- the 
Republicans of Arkansas. Althoug-h a g-reat many of 
these may be averse to entering- the political arena; 
some for one reason and some for another. Of course, 
it would be a g-reat sacrifice of business interests, and 
an immense amount of labor for them to answer the 
calls of their party and the people of the State to drop 
business and enter h,eartily and ag-g-ressively into a 
State campaig-n. But in what manner can a public- 
spirited man and patriotic citizen, show his love of 

L, Of V» 



\ 



—23- 

country better than by responding to its call to serve 
it? I know it takes about as much courag-e and self- 
sacrifice to do this as to g-o to war and face the enemy 
on the smoking- battle field. But if they, with hig-h re- 
solve, step to the front when called, the honor due 
them is no less than that accorded the soldier who 
g-allantly bears aloft his Country's flag- in the day and 
hour of her dang-er. The bloodless victories g-ained 
•for g-ood g-overnment at the polls are no less renowned 
than those g-ained on the bloody battlefield. Indeed, 
the victories of our g-allant soldiers soon come to 
naug"ht if the fruits thereof are not g-uarded with zeal- 
ous vig-ilance in civil life. 

Oh! but some one says that the Republicans are so 
divided and split up into factions in this State that itis 
impossible for them to ever g-et together and ag-ree up- 
on and support one common ticket. I do not believe 
it. I have seen much.worse divisions among" Republi- 
cans in this State, when faction foug-ht faction more 
bitterly than any fig-ht we have had among- Republicans 
in this State during- the last few years, and they, at 
last, waived their differences and came tog-ether like 
fellow patriots in the cause of g-ood and honest g-overn- 
ment, and went to the polls side by side in support of 
a common cause and a common ticket. To do this 
they laid aside all personal matters, condoned what, 
for the time being-, they considered a personal wrong- 
they honestly felt they had suffered, and like patriots, 
which all Republicans in Arkansas are, rallied to the 
support of one common cause, the g-ood of the whole 
country. 

I take it Republicans in Arkansas are now as pat- 
riotic as they ever were, and as sensible as those of 
the seventies and eig-hties. That they can now do as 
their older corn-patriots have done before them, waive 
their temporary differences in matters of National ad- 



—24- 

ministration, (they have no differences over State 
affairs) and one and all, black as well as white, resolve 
to do their duty in the next campaign. Let us admit 
that some good, true, active and patriotic Republicans 
have not had the consideration that they and their 
friends thought and may still think they were entitled 
to at the hands of the National Administration. That 
is past. If an injustice has been done any good Re- 
publican, that should not be allowed to cripple the 
Republican party in the State so that it can not dis- 
charge the duty that Republicans owe not onW to the 
State and her people, but to themselves. And there 
certainly never was a time, nor was there ever a State 
that needed the doctrines of true Republicanism pro- 
mulgated and put in practice more than is now needed 
in Arkansas. That work is confided to each and every 
individual Republican of the State, and should be met 
manfully and courageously. If we do this we will only 
discharge a duty we owe as good citizens; and if we do 
not do it, we will receive, and what is worse, merit the 
contempt of all good citizens. 

Our influence and interest in National politics are 
infinitesimal when compared with the interest v/e have 
in good and honorable government in our own State at 
home; and certainly if our influence is not exerted and 
made felt at home we ought not to expect to be heard 
in National affairs. 

Therefore I appeal to you, my fellow Republicans 
of Arkansas, to lay aside your differences, get togeth- 
er as country-loving American citizens, and true Ar- 
kansans, put a full State ticket in the field composed 
of men, who, if elected, will reflect credit upon those 
who elect them and upon our much abused State; of 
men who will give their time, their talent and energy 
to the -advocacy of true Republicanism upon every 
stump in the State from the time they are nominated 



J , «i.^ 



—25— 

until the last ballot is cast and counted at the State 
election next September. Let us do our duty, our 
whole duty and nothino- but our dut}^ in this most im- 
portant crisis in the history of Arkansas; and leave 
the result to an over-ruling- Providence, Who doth all 
thing's well; as patriots we cannot afford to do 
less. And, if, in the dispensation of Divine Provi- 
dence, our ticket should be the choice of the g'ood peo- 
ple of Arkansas, let us be sure it is composed of men, 
whose integ-rity, ability and fitness* will enable them to 
meet the just expectations of those who elect them, 
and who ma}' ag-reeably surprise many of those who 
may oppose them. 

With such a ticket placed upon the platform of 
principles outlined above, tog-ether with other matters 
of importance that may be added, I feel quite sure that 
whether we succeed at the polls or not, we will do the 
next best thing-, that is, we will demonstrate to the 
world that we merit success. And if we do not make 
the effort above outlined we will fall far short of our 
duty, and this I am not prepared to believe any Repub- 
lican of Arkansas would suffer to be laid at his door. 
Let personal matters and personal g-reivances be laid 
aside, and let us all rally to the rescue of our State 
irom. f>crso)ial politics which is now making- it the butt 
of ridicule all over the country. 

This reconciliation of Republicans can be readily 
and honorably effected by the dift'erent State Committees 
meeting- in a spirit of manly fajrness, making- concess- 
ions and waiving* of differ inces and then ag^ree upon a 
certain time and place for the State Convention; and then 
address their v^arious county org-anizations urg'ing-them 
to meet in one County Convention and send to the 
State Convention one set of delegates composed of 
their very best men. Let this course be taken and I 
believe many Vill be surprised at how easily and how 



—26— 

readily all factional differences among- the Republicans 
of Arkansas will disappear, and how soon our ranks 
will be closed and in working order like we were 
twenty and thirty 3'ears ag-o. 

If we get tog-ether and raise high our party flag- in 
the fore front of our State^olitics, we will at once be- 
come a potent factor in securing- just, g-ood and stable 
g-overnment, honorable at home and creditable abroad. 
And we will take part in securing- the best methods for 
the more rapid development and building up of our 
State; a State w^hich is more abundantly blessed by 
nature than any other in the American Union; and 
only need wise and patriotic statesmanship to make it 
a happy hive of prosperous industry, including the 
farm, the factory, the forest, the mines and commerce. 

If what I have said should awaken a desire on the 
part of any considerable number of my fellow-citizens 
to hear from me further on any of the questions bear- 
ing- upon the interests of Arkansas, I shall esteem it 
an honor, as it would be to me a pleasure, to address 
them at convenient times and places. 

"LET US HAVE PEACE." 

Let us remember and act upon that noble and 
patriotic announcement of that silent man of iron who 
led us in war and in peace. General Grant, when he 
uttered those words that have rung in our ears and 
the ears of the whole country, since the close of our 
unfortunate Civil War, and will go resounding down 
the corridors of the coming- centuries, when he said: 
"Let us have peace." I beg to say the same to 
each Republican in Arkansas. Remember "Peace 
hath her victories no less renowned than war." 

Thomas Boles. 

Port Smith, Arkansas, 
March 15, 1904. 



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